Binfield hammered AFC Totton 5-1 with what must surely rank as one of the most memorable FA Cup performances in the club’s history.
The magical Moles were far too good for their higher-ranked Southern League Division One South opponents on Saturday, outsmarting them in all departments and they could quite easily have won by an even wider margin.
Inspirational skipper Sean Moore and recent-signing Ollie Harris shared four goals with centre-back Liam Gavin adding the other in this highly-entertaining preliminary round tie which attracted a crowd of 220 to a sunny Hill Farm Lane.
Binfield might well have scored the quickest FA Cup goal of the day as there were less than 20 seconds on the clock when they were celebrating Moore’s smartly-taken opener, the skipper sending the ball out to right to Asa Povey and then racing in at the near post to meet his cross.
But three minutes later the scores were level, with Craig Feeney hitting a vicious deflected shot from near the edge of the area over keeper Chris Grace.
Binfield were forced to make a change after 24 minutes when striker Adam Cornell was forced off with a groin injury and replaced by young-attacking midfielder Joel Valentin.
For a short time, Totton started to look more like a side from Step 4, but the Uhlsport Hellenic League hosts raised their game and regained the lead in the 35th minute when Harris strode through and kept his composure to plant the ball low into the net.
They went further ahead three minutes before half-time. Moore was brought down by keeper Amaduesz Skrzyniarz and Harris, a close-season signing, made no mistake from the penalty spot, finding the bottom left-hand corner.
The stunned Stags made two substitutions for the second half to bolster their attack, but they failed to make a difference as they were unable to break down a solid home defence, where Gavin was a shining beacon.
And it was the big centre-back who made it 4-1 on 52 minutes. He found space for himself just outside the far post as the ball was headed on from a right-wing corner, Gavin smashing it home with his left foot.
The buzzing Moles were now playing with the utmost confidence and Totton could simply not live with them with Povey giving the visitors a lesson in a wide man’s duties, looking to attack at every opportunity whilst also being willing to race back to assist his defence.
Moore twice went close before adding the fifth goal in the 75th minute when he brilliantly lobbed the out-of-position Skrzyniarz from more than 30 yards – a classy goal to cap a classy performance,
Soon afterwards the tiring Hampshire side were reduced to 10 men with half-time substitute Ethan Taylor being shown two yellow cards by referee Luis Nunes in less than 15 minutes.
The hat-trick seeking Harris was only inches away from getting on the end of Elliot Legg’s left-wing cross as the super-fit Moles maintained a high work rate right to the final whistle.
It was certainly a day to remember for the Binfield club, particularly new joint managers Jamie McClurg and Carl Withers, whilst former team bosses Roger Herridge and Mark Tallentire looked on with admiration from close to their old seats in the dug-out.
Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round
Badshot Lea 0-2 Bracknell Town
Binfield 5-1 AFC Totton
Thatcham Town 1-5 AFC Dunstable
Wantage Town 3-2 Windsor
